The NBEAL2 Knockout Raji Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population generated by disruption of the NBEAL2 gene in Raji B lymphocytes. This heterogeneous pool of NBEAL2-deficient cells provides a robust model for functional studies without clonal selection biases, suitable for investigating gene function in B-cell biology and endosomal trafficking.
Raji is an EBV-positive B lymphoblastoid line established from a Burkitt lymphoma patient. Widely used as a model for B-cell signaling and lymphomagenesis, Raji cells exhibit high proliferative capacity, suspension growth, and amenability to genetic manipulation. The EBV-transformed background also enables studies of viral?Chost interactions and oncogenic pathways.
NBEAL2 encodes a BEACH-domain protein critical for alpha-granule biogenesis in platelets and implicated in general endosomal trafficking. It interacts with HSPA8 and SEC16A and acts in a network that includes LYST, the AP-3 complex, and Rab GTPases. Transcription of NBEAL2 is regulated by GATA1 and RUNX1. Downstream, NBEAL2 mediates the sorting of cargo proteins such as vWF, PF4, P-selectin, and TGF-??1. Loss of NBEAL2 disrupts granule formation and secretion, leading to platelet dysfunction and gray platelet syndrome. In B lymphocytes, NBEAL2 may similarly regulate vesicle trafficking and secretion of immune mediators, though its precise lymphocytic roles are less defined.
In Raji cells, NBEAL2 knockout permits exploration of its functions beyond platelets, particularly in endolysosomal sorting, cytokine secretion, and B-cell receptor signaling. The polyclonal knockout format allows assessment of phenotype variability and is especially relevant for studying gene disruption in an EBV-driven cell line, potentially uncovering interactions between NBEAL2-dependent trafficking and viral latency or immune evasion mechanisms.
Researchers can employ this product in Western blotting, RT-qPCR, and immunofluorescence to validate NBEAL2 disruption and monitor downstream targets. Flow cytometry, cytokine secretion assays, and endocytosis assays enable functional analysis of trafficking defects, while co-immunoprecipitation and RNA-seq facilitate protein interaction and transcriptome studies. The model is also suited for drug screening targeting granule-related pathways. For additional information, please contact Ascent Research.
